September 2014 - 6 months already?!

[holls2000]

new thread!

Thanks for the info fate. I think as Jessica has so much milk at the moment she's probably fine (and we've no shortage of poo here)!

Ella well done on joining WW. I also joined last week (never done it before and it takes a while to get the hang of the points system but I'm getting there now). If you want to look me up on the WW website my screen name is DietingBeforeIHit30 x

Been to buy bunk beds today, ready for the boys to move into the same room. Deadline for the move to be final is May half term, until then DS9 can choose to sleep in his old room or new shared room. Come May we are decorating his room ready for DD to move into when she's reliably sleeping through.

I think Nazly had a refluxy baby too. I do admire those of you weaning with allergies or digestive issues, it must be hard. DD (3 weeks into weaning) now has the full range of food groups. I find that just veg meals lacking in protein or carbohydrates don't satisfy her as well.

I have opened a bottle of wine (given that I very rarely drink and have about 5-10 units over a year, this is a big deal) because being down to just one child is such a treat! Those of you with just one - remember to savour your time as a small family unit because it is special.

DH putting DD to bed now. Here's hoping for an easy night.

Ds has reflux but I am giving him absolutely everything, no diet whatsoever. Meat, nuts, egg, etc.

What happens in weight watcher or slimming world groups? How do they work?

We are similar with a lack of choice. DD1 is 10 years old so the age gap between her and baby sister is far too much. The two boys are 9 and 5 and so feasibly they are the only option for sharing. Until now they've had their own rooms. We do have a loft conversion planned (master bedroom for us tho), but this is unlikely to be until I return to work. So at least 5 years away.

To be fair, as soon as we found out we were pregnant we started talking about room arrangements if it was a boy or girl. Even while pregnant the boys knew the room move was on the cards.

DS5 is more excited about bunk beds and doesn't care about sharing. DS9 is harder to read. He hasn't said much either negatively or positively about it. He has a list of needs for his new room (which are all doable, like shelves for his geology collection) but generally seems to just be going with the flow, which is very typical of him.

The good news... DD only had one 5oz bottle through the night across two feelings. That is down from three bottles across 4-5 feedings up until a week ago

The bad news... For the past two nights she has been really unsettled, so I've had barely any sleep! Last night she'd only sleep on me, so I ended up bringing her into our bed as I just needed some sleep

Any wonderful pearls of wisdom as to what might be going on?! It's all very strange and I don't know what to make of it.

I think DD might have a bit of a food sensitivity. She always had a bit of a spotty chin as she dribbles so much, but recently it's been far worse and a couple of time recently we've noticed the same little dots elsewhere, mainly on her legs. I'm not sure what it is (I've not been to great at introducing one thing at a time). For some reason I think it could be apple, even though we did introduce it quite early. Going to try taking her to just banana and pear for a couple of days, see if it improves. If it doesn't I might take her to the doctors about it.

I'm soooo tired.

We've also got a rashy face going on, not sure what's causing it though. Could be the sun screen he had on, the numerous pork pies I had which contain egg, the beef in his cottage pie or something else entirely

I tried the cot again last night, was not good! Tried to put him down asleep and he woke up straight away, cried and cried even being cuddled and with white noise. Eventually fed him and he went back to sleep. Lasted 2 hours but woke every half hour needing a hand hold and a back rub to drift off again. At 11 he just wouldn't settle so back in bed with me. It's hard to stick to it when we both sleep better when he's in with me!

fate J is also sprouting a tooth. He also had a cold over the weekend . So we had two hellish waking hourly nights, followed by a good nights sleep. I did take J for a walk by the sea and think the sea air really did him good.

Am really making the most of the Easter Hols...it's dawned on me that I won't ever have the full two weeks off again, plus my big kids won't want to do family stuff for much longer. Infact I've only captured them this time because daughter's grounded and I'm wrapping son in cotton wool since his zipwire accident. Yesterday we took J to an enchanted forest/animal park...today we are meeting friends at a wild animal place...tomorrow the beach .

It's been a trip down memory lane for the twins and me...doing all the things we did when they were little and it was just the 3 of us.

The weekend was quiet as J wasn't too well, but we did take him to feed the ducks with DP. And the twins got far too many easter eggs so they were happy.

Were you a single Mum to your twins Jay? That must have been so, so much hard work!

Looking back with hindsight now that we know DD has been teething, no symptoms at all really. Her nights have been no different. DC3 used to get a bright red bottom for a week before a tooth appeared, but nothing like that. No dribbling either. All very odd, it just appeared.

Your Easter sounds lovely Jay. DH & I were saying only the other week that our elder two are getting less and less interested in our weekend trips out. We still drag them along though. One of DDs friends is allowing to stay home alone while her parents go out for short trips and she is badgering us to do this. I wont though. I take all 4 of the children even to a quick trip to fetch milk or whatever.

Silly really because she walks home from school alone, goes out to play alone, goes to the park, walks to local friends houses - so (her argument) I let her do things alone outside of the house, so why not in the house? Which really is a damn reasonable point. But I'm sill not ready!

Ella I've often wondered what happened to the lady from our antenatal thread who broke up with her DH too I can't imagine how hard being a single parent is. I don't understand why single parents get a hard time either

I think single parents are amazing. my mum was a sp for 5 years - my grandparents helped out a lot, but bloody hell how she raised me and coped with divorcing dad (plus my sister had just died so she was coping with that too) is incredible. I have a lot of time for single parents, especially now I know what bloody hard work it is.

Single parents are absolutely amazing and I do admire their ability; nobody in their right mind wants to be a single parent , but things don't always go to plan...

If this is not a fluke I think Our problem may be resolving, as ds had some formula and quite a bit of water and yogurt drink. Interestingly he prefers an actual cup/mug to sippy cups and bottles and non spill cups and all sort of baby cups I bought unnecessarily. And in a matter of days he is getting so good at it...
Fate was it you talking about babies imitating older siblings going direct to 12m+ cups? Well, ds is the only child, so he directly jumped to a mug!!

It was me Nazly. I think these babies do have their own preferences and as they get older, we will come to learn then.

I wasn't on the antenatal thread here (far to stressed at the idea that I might not end up with an actual baby, that I struggled to even accept the pregnancy). It must be nice for many of you here who have known and supported each other right from the very start of being pregnant.

I bet people have changed so much since January last year. It must be nice to look back and remember people who were going through the same pregnancy stages as you.

I do remember when I first gave birth coming across a poster with a daughter born very close to mine. She'd had a previous stillbirth and posted in a very anxious way in those early days. I remember she had a childbirth thread when early labour started. I don't know what came of her and I do often wonder. If she happens to be reading this, I hope she is well and enjoying her wonderful baby girl

Yes, I was a single parent when the twins were younger, but have always had a lot of help from my mum, who lives very nearby - so it wasn't as hard as it is for some.
I was with the twin's dad during their baby and pre-school years, but it wasn't a great relationship and did not end well. He has a diagnosed personality disorder and is now (as a result of a number of things) court ordered no contact with the twins.
I quite enjoyed my single parent days; although I think it was such a relief not to have my ex in the house, and a lot of pressure was alieviated as we lived in a happier environment. As I have said, I've been lucky to have my mum to help out with childcare and also lucky to have a relatively well paid career in public sector jobs where I can work part time and get added bonuses like flexible working.
I was on my own for five years with the twins, until I got with DP. I had actually known DP since I was 18; his brother's wife is a good friend of mine and I have known his parents for years too - to be honest, I wouldn't have let anybody into our lives, had I not known their background - and that they would be good with the kids .

ella and fate Re: Leaving kids at home...Well, I am not a fan of this either and I definitely wouldn't leave the twins together at home . I can leave my son for short periods if I pop out shopping, but daughter usually comes with me. My DS is very trustworthy, I know he will spend that time alone in Playstation land, he won't answer the door to anyone/invite mates round/ try and cook food etc. My daughter would be a nightmare left to her own devices - so I do have a bit of a double standard on this.
I find the whole boundaries thing difficult at the moment. They both walk to school, which is a mile for both of them. They are at different schools so don't walk together. I have given them some freedom and both have met consequences. My son and his friends are more trustworthy (plus they are friends he has had for years so I know most of the boys and their parents); and their weekend outings consist of cinema or going to sports, sweets and games shops. After school, they sometimes go to KFC or the park.
My daughters weekend trips consist of sleepovers, shopping centre - and park after school. She has new friends who I don't know. There have been far more problems with the girls - shoplifting, chatting online to strangers, self harming on Instagram and just general non stop bitching. My daughter does tend to tell me everything so I have had to be strict and lay down the law more with her. I did ban her from the shoplifters, but then caught her out sneaking off with them - but they ditched her anyway for being a goody-goody.
I don't want to be too restrictive but I guess it's all about finding the right balance. I was a nightmare teenager so it will be hard to watch either of mine go through that - especially when you get older and realise how worthless it all was !

Hello I am reading to keep up but not posting as much that should change when we are back in our own flat.

E continues to eat well and can sit independently but his sleeping is getting worse :(

Cookie is he one of the oldest or am I imagining that? What's happening sleep-wise? Dd is doing really well atm so I'm praying she doesn't go backwards for any more significant periods of time...

Jay you sound like such a fantastic and hardworking mum, your little brood is very lucky! The stories about your dd are terrifying though, as if being a teenage girl isn't hard enough without all that drama...!

After my snugness at DD's first tooth appearing without any symptoms or bother at all, we had two hours of inexplicable screaming from 1am-3am last night.

It is so unlike her, must be pain. I am not used to needing to sooth her in the night, usually the dummy does it easily. I felt like I didn't know what to do to help her - I tried feeding, swaddling, co-sleeping, shushing, patting, holding, rocking - nothing at all would console her.

She must have hurt so much that she just couldn't sleep. I am ready with calpol and teething get for tonight.

We have four teeth and no sleep here.

Can't recommend the fitbit enough. I've put in I want to loose a stone by end of July which is apparently moderately hard. I'm surprised by how hard it is to stick to the right amount a day but I'm not doing too bad considering how much chocolate is in the house at the moment. I think I'll miss the target if I'm honest, but I figured I'd rather set it at moderately hard and then over do the calories and be relaxed about it rather than trying to do the easier setting and then feel guilty for missing the daily target.

It also has a setting if you are breastfeeding too which is great as I don't think all of them have that setting.

Teeth usually come in pairs. I think our problem is either the second of the pair or it is the wider part of the tooth pushing through rather than just the sharp point we felt initially.

We are having a regression day together today after our hard night last night. DD is back to milk only for today and we are dozing and cuddling together on my bed, all day long. Going back to the newborn days of just feeding, sleeping and cuddling will do us both good, I think. Even if just for a day.

apples yes he is one of the oldest 8 months on Monday although 6 and half corrected so one of the youngest too

He use to wake up once during the night and is now doing at least two wake ups which isn't too bad but two nights ago he woke up 5 times and the previous three nights before that he was up for three hours. It is really affecting him as he is shattered and now he has another cold. I am also shattered :(

He is off his food today, I plan to give him calpol tonight as nurofen seems to do nothing. I am currently in the car letting him have a nice long nap!

Five poos in one day! Seriously?!?!? What is going on?!?!? Wonder if there will be number six today, there's still time...

Three bad nights in a row too. Not good. She only wants to sleep on one of us, and we stopped that a couple of months ago

Also think that acidy fruits were causing the reappearance of reflux vomiting, so we've cut fruits back to just pears and bananas. Gone from 8-10 vomits a day to 1-2. Woo hoo!